Leather crafts include more than just belts.
Whether you're a skilled leatherworker, a young person interested in the trade or someone who enjoys do-it-yourself crafts, attending a leather camp is a good way to learn work with leather, transform it into useful items and master important techniques. Leather accessories are seen everywhere; from purses and briefcases to hair accessories, picture frames and pet toys. While at a leather camp, a variety of ideas and lessons are available.
Bracelet
A simple craft idea for a kids' or adult leather crafting camp is a bracelet. Bracelets can be made with the camp's leftover scrap leather from other projects and enhanced by beads, silver charms, or even feathers and grommets. Different colored leathers can be used to form patterns, match outfits or show off the camp's colors. Campers can choose varying styles, such as braided leather, leather cuffs, single thin strands or multi-strand bracelets.
Headband
Female campers may enjoy crafting braided leather headbands to keep their hair out of their eyes during other leatherwork, camp sports, dances or for sleeping. Headbands can be made out of scrap leather found in the camp shop, preferably thin and soft pieces. Choose colors that match your camp shirt, outfit or personal style. Use camp machinery, such as an electric stitcher, and supplies, such as scissors and elastic. Headbands can be made quickly to use as gifts, camp fundraisers or given out for spirit games.
Journal
Capture your experiences as a camper by writing them down in your own, hand-crafted leather journal. The journal becomes not only a souvenir of leather camp, but a way to express feelings, sketch, capture lists and plans for the day, plus can be used to take down autographs and other campers' contact information before camp ends. The leather journal cover can be used by repurposing shop materials or cutting through old purses, jackets, briefcases and skirts. It is up to the individual camper to decide whether he would prefer lined or blank inside pages (pages can be pulled from old notebooks or even thin pieces of decorated wallpaper or stationery).
Bookmark
Even the youngest campers can make leather crafts with supervision and some easy craft supplies. With old, thin pieces of leather cut down into strips, provide campers paint, markers, glitter, stickers and glue. Campers can create leather bookmarks to give as gifts or use for their own schoolbooks, craft books or journals.
Tags: braided leather, Headbands made, leather camp, leather journal, scrap leather, thin pieces
